UK diplomat must respect our courts - Mathe
Executive director in the information ministry, Dr Audrin Mathe, has hit back at British high commissioner to Namibia Charles Moore’s assertion that there’s no risk in Namibia granting citizenship to a boy whose fathers are in a same-sex marriage.
Namibian Philip Lühl and his Mexican husband Guillermo Delgado have been involved in a legal battle to obtain Namibian citizenship for their son Yona, but were dealt a tough blow this week when the Supreme Court ruled that the child was not entitled to citizenship.
In response, Moore tweeted: “Hard to believe how much time, money and effort is being spent on actively preventing the granting of Namibian citizenship to a four-year-old child. What possible risk is there from showing compassion for one young child?”
To this, Mathe replied: “Charles, please assist them with registration in the United Kingdom? And I also want to come and marry my fifth and sixth wife there!”
Gay rights activists descended on Mathe like bees on honey, criticising his views as “homophobic” and accusing him of “asking for queer Namibians to go into exile”.
Double standards
Responding to questions by Namibian Sun yesterday, Mathe said he did not address the merits of the Supreme Court ruling but rather urged the British diplomat to respect it.
“The point about the ambassador’s post seems to incite people against the ruling of the Supreme Court. All of us must respect the courts, not just when they rule in our favour but also when the courts rule against us,” he said.
“The double standard here is that the United Kingdom does not sanction polygamous marriages. That was my reference to polygamy. But yet, it is perfectly normal for a foreign government to criticise our institutions when they do not meet their moral standards.”
Not meddling
Mathe said he has always called for an inclusive society – recalling that his views were once deemed very unpopular within the largely conservative Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL).
“I have previously affirmed my position that people of all orientations should have equality. I did not address the merits or otherwise of the LGBTQIA debate. Only what I regard as double standards,” he told Namibian Sun.
Moore yesterday said he did not mean to meddle in Namibia’s domestic affairs.
“My post on Twitter was intended only to ask whether a young child could be granted citizenship, and not in any way to criticise the court ruling or interfere in Namibian internal affairs.
“I regret having given a different impression and I have now deleted the post from my account.”
Namibian Philip Lühl and his Mexican husband Guillermo Delgado have been involved in a legal battle to obtain Namibian citizenship for their son Yona, but were dealt a tough blow this week when the Supreme Court ruled that the child was not entitled to citizenship.
In response, Moore tweeted: “Hard to believe how much time, money and effort is being spent on actively preventing the granting of Namibian citizenship to a four-year-old child. What possible risk is there from showing compassion for one young child?”
To this, Mathe replied: “Charles, please assist them with registration in the United Kingdom? And I also want to come and marry my fifth and sixth wife there!”
Gay rights activists descended on Mathe like bees on honey, criticising his views as “homophobic” and accusing him of “asking for queer Namibians to go into exile”.
Double standards
Responding to questions by Namibian Sun yesterday, Mathe said he did not address the merits of the Supreme Court ruling but rather urged the British diplomat to respect it.
“The point about the ambassador’s post seems to incite people against the ruling of the Supreme Court. All of us must respect the courts, not just when they rule in our favour but also when the courts rule against us,” he said.
“The double standard here is that the United Kingdom does not sanction polygamous marriages. That was my reference to polygamy. But yet, it is perfectly normal for a foreign government to criticise our institutions when they do not meet their moral standards.”
Not meddling
Mathe said he has always called for an inclusive society – recalling that his views were once deemed very unpopular within the largely conservative Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL).
“I have previously affirmed my position that people of all orientations should have equality. I did not address the merits or otherwise of the LGBTQIA debate. Only what I regard as double standards,” he told Namibian Sun.
Moore yesterday said he did not mean to meddle in Namibia’s domestic affairs.
“My post on Twitter was intended only to ask whether a young child could be granted citizenship, and not in any way to criticise the court ruling or interfere in Namibian internal affairs.
“I regret having given a different impression and I have now deleted the post from my account.”
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